The Supreme Court on Monday set a deadline of July 31 for the University Grants Commission to finish inspection of the 44 deemed universities, whose fate was sealed by an expert committee formed by Centre recommending their de-recognition.
The bench of Justices KS Radharkishnan and Vikramajit Sen granted the request by UGC to extend the time for inspection till July 31 as UGC submitted that no further time would be sought beyond this deadline.
The Centre which had constituted a committee headed by academician PN Tandon, had first segregated 44 universities out of 126 to be blacklisted of their deemed tag. The order was reviewed by the Tandon panel which found no improvement in the condition of the said universities and affirmed its earlier decision. On Monday, ASG Indira Jaising, who appeared for the Centre, argued that UGC was dragging its feet from deciding on the fate of the 44 universities.
On its part, the Centre said that it was opposed to any further inspection. Jaising urged the Court not to permit UGC to conduct fresh inspection as this would delay a decision on the 44 varsities. She pointed out that the UGC Regulations gave it sufficient powers to conduct any inspection.
The bench clarified that the UGC was free to act under its Regulations and nothing in its order will come in its way to exercise this mandate.
In 2009, following a Supreme Court order in a PIl, the Tandon committee under the Ministry of Human Resources Development conducted a mammoth task to inspect 126 Deemed Universities and classified them into three categories - A, B and C. The committee evaluated these institutions based on nine parameters including conformity to UGC guidelines, aspects of governance, innovation in teaching, research output and impact and doctoral and research programmes.
While 38 institutions passed the test and got listed in A category, 44 institutions were listed in B category which required minor improvements. But with regard to remaining lot of 44, the Committee held they were unfit to continue as deemed universities.